Hoax Kidnapping Sparks Chaos: What Really Happened in Florida

It starts with a single message: “I’ve been taken.” Within minutes, panic spreads, officers mobilize, and fear grips an entire community. But what if the whole thing is a lie? In this week's episode of Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer explore the rise of modern hoaxes, from a Florida teen’s fake abduction to the mysterious disappearance of a Cobb County dentist. They expose how a single false story can spiral into chaos and change the lives of everyone it touches.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
• (2:00) A 17-year-old's fake kidnapping text, Susan Smith’s lies, and other infamous hoaxes
• (6:00) False reports and how they create first responder fatigue
• (7:30) Scene vs. Story: vague details, missing specifics, and suspicious Walmart purchases
• (11:15) The cost of hoaxes: mobilizing resources and fueling fear
• (14:15) Philadelphia's missing person case and signs of authentic urgency
• (15:15) Cobb County's missing dentist: social media’s role, cascading lies, and loved one’s involvement
• (23:00) Sheryl McCollum: “A lie is as good as a confession.”
• (23:45) Parental instincts vs. Truth: the Landry family’s heartbreak
• (25:30) Joshua Schiffer: “All lies are burdens. They are rocks in your pockets.”
• (29:00) Instincts during real emergencies: how victims respond under threat
• (32:15) Closing reflections

About the Hosts

Joshua Schiffer is a veteran trial attorney and one of the Southeast’s most respected legal voices. He is a founding partner at ChancoSchiffer P.C., where he has litigated high-stakes criminal, civil rights, and personal injury cases for over two decades. Known for his bold courtroom presence and ability to clearly explain complex legal issues, Schiffer is a frequent media contributor and a fearless advocate for accountability.

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, a forensic and crime scene expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

🎧 Want more from Sheryl?

Catch her every week on the Zone 7 podcast, where she hosts the main series on Wednesdays, Pathology with Dr. Priya on Mondays, and Crime Roundup each Friday alongside Joshua Schiffer.

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Follow the Hosts:

• Sheryl on X: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
• Joshua on X and Instagram: @lawyerschiff

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